11 buzz-worthy vehicles at the 2016 New York International Auto Show

From hot-selling SUVs to cool new small cars to electric vehicles and
hybrids, the 2016 New York International Auto Show features a diverse
lineup of new vehicles. The show officially opens to the public on
Friday. About 1,000 vehicles will be on display:Here are some of the buzz-worthy new cars and trucks at the show

1. Audi R8 Spyder: Audi added the open-top R8 to its supercar
lineup Wednesday, pulling a tarp off a yellow version of the car at the
New York auto show. The Spyder has the same V10 engine as the R8 Coupe,
but its hardtop folds mechanically behind the seats. The 5.2-litre, 540
horsepower engine can take the car to nearly 200 miles per hour, even
with an open top. "I think this is quite cool," said Dietmar
Voggenreiter, board member for sales and marketing. Since the R8 was
launched in 2008, the brand's US sales have gone from 80,000 per year to
more than 200,000.

2. Honda Civic Hatchback: Honda says
the hatch is making a comeback in small US cars. The automaker shows off
a five-door Civic hatchback, and Senior Vice President Jeff Conrad says
it will cater mainly to Generation Y (ages 21-35), which likes
hatchback utility and sporty performance. The hot hatch gets a
174-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. It's the
first US Civic hatch since 1995. Price wasn't announced, but it's due
out in the fall.

3. Demi Lovato Civic: Singers Demi Lovato
and Nick Jonas will headline the Civic concert tour this year, and
keeping with tradition, Lovato got a chance to design and autograph her
own Civic sedan exterior. Jonas, meanwhile, did the same with a Honda
Grom motorcycle. Fans can enter a sweepstakes to win both vehicles.

4. Toyota Prius Prime:
The cult car for the environmentally-conscious got a makeover last
year. Now, live from New York, it's the Prius Prime, a plug-in electric
version that can go 22 miles on battery power alone, about double the
previous plug-in model. Toyota says the new car handles much better than
the old Prius and can drive up to 84 miles per hour without leaving
electric vehicle mode. The electric range meets the daily commuting
distance of more than half of US drivers, according to Toyota. Price
wasn't announced. It's due out in late fall.

5. Toyota Highlander:
Toyota's three-row SUV gets some upgrades for 2017. Base models still
have a four-cylinder engine and six-speed transmission, but drivers can
upgrade to a new 3.5-litre V6 with a new eight-speed transmission.
Toyota says the new combination has more power and is more fuel
efficient. All V6 models will come with stop-start technology, which
automatically turns off the engine at a stop light. The Highlander goes
on sale in the fall.

6. Mazda MX-5 RF: If you want to ride
with the wind, Mazda has a car for you. The RF stands for "retractable
fastback," a new version of the Miata sports car with smooth mechanics
that fold the roof panel above the seating area into a spot behind the
passenger compartment. No price was given for the new version, which
goes on sale in the late summer.

7. Buick Encore: After
three years of surprisingly strong sales, General Motors' Buick brand is
protecting its franchise by freshening the Encore tiny SUV. It gets a
new front end and interior. With 66,000 sales last year, the Encore is
Buick's top seller. SUVs are now almost two-thirds of Buick's sales.
Buyers can opt for a new 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine that has 14 more
horsepower than the base model. Available in the fall.

8. Nissan GT-R:
Godzilla, as it's known to fans, gets its first big makeover in a
decade. The 2017 GT-R has a bigger grille for engine cooling, and the
car has a higher line below the windows in the rear to make it look
wider and more aggressive. Handling is improved. Under the hood, the
3.8-litre V6 twin-turbocharged engine has been tweaked to deliver 565
horsepower, a 20-horsepower improvement over the 2016 GT-R. The car gets
an improved six-speed dual-clutch transmission. The interior is
simplified, with fewer switches and paddle shifters. Goes on sale this
summer.

9. Acura MDX: Acura's best-seller, the three-row
MDX SUV, gets a new pentagonal grille and a chiselled hood, narrowed
headlights and LED fog lights and twin tailpipes. The Sport Hybrid
powertrain pairs a 3.0-litre V6 engine and three electric motors that
power the front and rear wheels. The motors help the SUV accelerate
faster and drive more sharply around bends. Acura expects the MDX Sport
Hybrid to get 26 miles per gallon in city and highway driving, or 7 mpg
more than a non-hybrid MDX. MDX goes on sale this summer, with the Sport
Hybrid version later this year.

10. Hyundai Ioniq: Here's a
triple play: The Ioniq is designed to handle three methods for making
it move — battery power, gas and electric hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid
that can travel over 25 miles on battery alone. And it looks normal, not
much different from the popular gas-powered midsize Sonata. The hybrid
versions have a 1.6-litre, 104-horsepower engine made specifically for
hybrid use. Hyundai paired it with a 6-speed automatic transmission to
give the car better acceleration and driving performance. The electric
Ioniq can go up to 110 miles per charge. It's expected to be in
showrooms in the fall.

11. Subaru Impreza: Subaru debuts
two Imprezas: the four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback. Both are
slightly longer and wider than outgoing models, which gives them more
interior space. They also sit lower to improve aerodynamics. The Impreza
is built on a new, stiffer platform for improved handling and better
crash resistance. Inside, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now
standard. One new safety option is reverse automatic braking, which can
halt the car if it's about to back into something. Goes on sale later
this year.